The Asia Pacific MICE industry has undergone tremendous transformation over the past decades and is the fastest developing, overtaking North America to become the second largest market worldwide. As we mark 25 successful years, join our panel of veteran industry experts as we look back at the success factors and predict what will drive the next wave of growth for the region.

MODERATOR

James Latham, The Iceberg on behalf of The Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC)

The automation of payment and expenses has helped many companies achieve greater savings and process efficiencies. What new tools or innovation are we likely to see in the year ahead? Have the increased use of mobile tools made payments more seamless in transactions and reporting? How can travelers' preferences be aligned with corporate requirements?

Many companies still do not have a clear policy around alternative accommodation and transport services for business travel. How are decision makers weighing the risks and advantages of sharing economy services against traditional providers with higher security and reputation standards? Do sharing economy services bring value to your travel program?

With greater mobility, social media, increasing use of big data, new online payment platforms and traveler tracking going digital, how are decision makers leveraging new technologies and redefining the way they plan their business travel? How much has technology reduced their transaction and operational costs? What are the pitfalls or challenges of managing the fast-speed, 'on-the-go' travel needs of the workforce.

What will the future of tech travel look like? How can technology bridge the gap between the travel manager and business traveler? The speaker will show how you can create an end-to-end experience using the latest technology tools to maximize cost optimization, while enabling compliance and duty of care. A demo of the chat bot SAM will also be showcased.

The days of a single travel policy are coming to an end as organisations gain better insight of their traveler segments. What key considerations do companies have for setting corporate travel policies? How can they better assess the different traveler segments? How do they balance control and flexibility while ensuring compliance?

As Bleisure becomes more prevalent, travel managers face even greater difficulty in discerning the blurred lines between business and leisure activities. How is this trend impacting issues surrounding duty of care, traveler tracking and insurance? What must be done to prevent negative impact on business travel budgets and result in out-of-policy travel arrangements?

An essential piece of a well-run travel programme is the negotiated discounts and/or benefits put into place with travel suppliers which can lead to increased business travel savings. What considerations should bear in mind when setting objectives for purchase negotiations, and how do you ensure you get the most out of preferential rates and contractual obligations with chosen suppliers?

By 2020, millennials are expected to account for half of business travel spend globally. How are organisations adjusting their corporate travel programmes to accommodate their younger employees? How different is the approach to Millennial travellers when compared to their more senior travellers? How do you strike a balance between their needs and expectations?